Man gets 13 years for robbing two businesses, stealing from SUV

ZANESVILLE - A man who robbed a gas station and then a pharmacy on the same day was sentenced Monday to 13 years in prison.

Harry H. Krouskoupf III, 49, of Zanesville, previously pleaded guilty in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court to theft (certificate of title), a fifth-degree felony, and two counts of robbery, both second-degree felonies. Each count of robbery also carried a repeat violent offender specification.

His prison sentence is mandatory, which means he will have to serve all 13 years. He was also ordered to pay $1,033.60 in restitution.

Krouskoupf has a long criminal history, including convictions for breaking and entering, robbery, tampering with evidence and drug trafficking, Assistant Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch said in court.

Based on Krouskoupf's criminal history and the charges he had pleaded guilty to, Welch requested that he be sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Krouskoupf's defense attorney, Keith Edwards, argued that Krouskoupf only threatened physical harm during the robberies, which is significantly less serious than actually causing physical harm.

"He didn't have a gun in either of these robberies," Edwards said.

Not having a gun, Edwards said, is also significantly less serious than having a gun.

Before he was sentenced, Krouskoupf apologized.

Common Pleas Judge Mark Fleegle noted that Krouskoupf had seven prior felonies in his criminal history, and the judge sentenced him to 13 years.

At about 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2017, Krouskoupf went to Walmart to return some items, and when he came back outside to the parking lot, he opened the hatch of an SUV parked next to him and took items out of the vehicle, according to court records. The items he took included the vehicle title and a purse.

At about 2:07 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2017, Krouskoupf went to a gas station on Maysville Pike and demanded money from the cashier, court records state. He said, in part, "I have a gun. Don't make me shoot you."

On the same day a couple of hours later, Krouskoupf went to a pharmacy and told workers that no one would get hurt and to put the money in a bag, according to court records. Krouskoupf told the staff, "I'm a poor man who needs Christmas."

During both robberies, Krouskoupf made the workers believe he had a gun, but did not show one, court records state.